Guest Opinion | Pasadena Chamber Board Unanimously Opposes PUSD Measure O

Without objection the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted to strongly oppose Pasadena Unified School District’s facilities bond Measure O on the November 3, 2020, ballot. The unanimous vote of the Chamber Board members reflected the strong sentiment that Measure O is the wrong initiative being put before the voters at the worst possible time.

Measure O, placed on the ballot by the Pasadena Unified School Board in a divided vote, asks voters to approve a more than $500million bond measure to improve existing campus infrastructure. The additional tax burden will be borne by local taxpayers for more than 25 years. Titled the Pasadena Unified School District Repair, Technology, Student Achievement Measure, less than 15% is dedicated to technology upgrades. None of the funds generated are allowed to be spent on instructional materials or teacher salaries, per California law.

In dissenting during the vote, PUSD Board members Kimberly Kenne and Elizabeth Pomeroy expressed concerns that there is no set project list, the measure was rushed onto the ballot, the amount is too much of a burden on taxpayers right now and that existing PUSD bonds are still outstanding.

“The Board of the Pasadena Chamber found this measure to be an affront to taxpayers, property owners and residents,” said Pasadena Chamber CEO Paul Little. “The Pasadena area is experiencing the harshest financial downturn since the Great Depression. Unemployment has skyrocketed, recovery will be a long slow process and no one but the wealthy among us can afford any additional expenses right now.

“Pasadena Unified is in crisis, it is just not a facilities emergency, it is a student achievement crisis,” added Mr. Little. “Investment needs to be made in teachers, instructional materials and student support – not buildings fr a shrinking student body – and certainly not at the expense of local taxpayers already reeling from our battered economy.”

PUSD leadership is on record stating they have “failed” African-American students. One school board candidate has expressed concerns about the quality of education her children are receiving from PUSD, pointing out that her son graduated with a 1.45 Grade Point Average from PUSD and earned a 3.2 GPA at Pasadena City College. “That made me realize it’s not about the kids, it’s what the kids have to make them successful,” she said at a recent candidate forum.

“Pasadena Unified needs to concentrate on student achievement and the educational environment in its classrooms, not be distracted chasing construction funds that are unnecessary and unwarranted at this time,” commented Mr. Little.

Pasadena Unified is suffering from significantly declining enrollment, with projections that only 14,000 students will be attending PUSD schools within five years. School district officials and board members have blamed the decline, at least in part, on a lack of affordable housing in the PUSD service area. Ironically, passage of Measure O would make residential rents even less affordable as landlords pass tax increases along to tenants. Struggling small businesses will see their rents increase to cover additional costs forced upon them by Measure O.

“Somehow there is this myth that tax increases are simply absorbed by landlords when the truth is exactly the opposite-California allows landlords to pass tax increases along to residential and commercial tenants and most leases contain provisions that permit exactly that,” added Mr. Little. “Passage of Measure O will further provoke a decline in PUSD enrollment by driving housing costs up. It is simple math-higher rents mean fewer PUSD families able to afford housing in its service area. It will also hasten the closure of local small businesses who are teetering on insolvency now and cannot face increased rent and building costs.”

The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association Board of Directors wants to encourage an effective Pasadena Unified School District that delivers an excellent education for all its students. Measure O does not address the pressing need to invest in effective classroom support for PUSD students or teachers.

The PUSD Board of Education has struggled to maintain a healthy financial outlook for the district, getting to the verge of a takeover by the LA County Office of Education due to its inability to make tough financial decisions. At the same time the school board struggled to determine which campuses to close as a result of its significantly declining enrollment.

“The Chamber Board would like to see the PUSD show a few years of financial solvency and leadership in making difficult decisions before seeking a half billion-dollar investment from local taxpayers,” concluded Mr. Little. “Let’s see closure decisions made prior to investing facility upgrade and expansion monies in schools that will be mothballed.”

The Pasadena Chamber Board of Directors encourages everyone to vote No on Measure O.

The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association is a professional business organization. Since the earliest days of Pasadena, the Chamber has played a major role in the development of this internationally renowned city. Since 1888, when the organization was founded as the Board of Trade, the Chamber’s primary purpose has been the enhancement of both the business climate and the quality of life in Pasadena. The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce currently serves more than 1450 members.